You know how sometimes teams get put on such a lofty pedestal that everyone on the planet is made to believe said team is invincible? And they couldn’t possibly lose a game because they are a once-in-a-generation machine? Remember that loaded USC team from a few years ago that lost to Texas? The Lakers team with the Hall of Fame starting lineup that lost to the Pistons in the NBA Finals? Duke stunning previously-unbeaten UNLV in the Final Four way back? The Patriots only have two road games left – Baltimore and the Giants. We are not saying this to anger people, or just to take a contrarian viewpoint, but we now believe the New England will lose one of those games, and it probably will have something to do with Tom Brady getting knocked out of the game. Baltimore has been terrible in recent weeks, but under the lights on Monday night seems like a perfect time for an upset. Or in Game 16 against the Giants, with nothing to play for because home field is all wrapped up, we have a feeling the Pats slip up in East Rutherford.

1. New England Patriots – If McNabb is 100 percent (he’s not), we have this weird feeling the Eagles keep this one close well into the third quarter. Just a hunch.
2. Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys need to start tapping some of the greatest defensive minds in the history of the NFL to start devising a Super Bowl game plan for the Patriots.
3. Indianapolis Colts – Look for a monster bounce-back destruction of Atlanta.
4. Green Bay Packers – Lions need this one bad, and Green Bay could get caught looking ahead to Dallas. In fact, we predict a Packers loss this weekend.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers – Despite a bad, bad loss to the lowly Jets, we can’t move Big Ben’s crew down.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars – There is a groundsweel of support for these guys, but that schedule has been cake. Not completely sold on David Garrard in a playoff game … yet.
7. New York Giants – Let the Lions hang around way too long. Really need to beat down the Peterson-less Vikings.
8. Cleveland Browns – This third tier of teams is one big cluster of inconsistency. But it’s easy to root for perennial loser.
9. Seatte Seahawks – As bad as the Bears are, we didn’t expect Seattle to win without Shaun Alexander.
10. Tennessee Titans – Thanks for nothing, Vince. You overrated piece of excrement. The story about his recently-released-from-jail father is sad, though.
11. Tampa Bay Bucs – Jeff Garcia works magic on the field Sundays, but did you know on Saturdays he does card tricks at birthday parties? A magician, indeed.
12. Philadelphia Eagles – A quantum leap, yes, but with wins over the Lions and Skins, we had no choice.
13. San Diego Chargers – Hopelessly adrift on the wild River David.
14. Arizona Cardinals – Brynn Cameron is getting more ink these days than Matt Leinart.
15. Detroit Lions – Egads: Eight rushes, -18 yards, three fumbles, one touchdown.
16. Washington Redskins – Would you rather have Cowher or Parcells?
17. Chicago Bears – Cedric Benson is rapidly closing in on 1,000 yards this season. Just 373 to go, or 63 yards over the final six games.
18. Denver Broncos – Rise slightly not because they beat the overrated Titans, but because they have a weak schedule the rest of the way.
19. Buffalo Bills – What would be the minimum salary it would take for you to move to Buffalo? It seems really cold there.
20. Baltimore Ravens – If the Patriots are up big on the Ravens and still passing, rest assured Ray Lewis will hurt Tom Brady.
21. Carolina Panthers – Has anyone ever longed for David Carr like this?
22. Houston Texans – Remember when George went on that ‘even’ roll on Seinfeld? That’s where the Texans are. One week down, the next week up. And does it matter, really?
23. New Orleans Saints – Death on a popsicle stick. That’s how bad the Saints have looked the last two weeks.
24. Kansas City Chiefs – Brodie Croyle almost wins games … Damon Huard just loses them.
25. Cincinnati Bengals – No racing horses this offseason for Chad Johnson – but he may try to run away from this team.
26. Minnesota Vikings – Brad Childress needs to save his job, so he’s thinking of bringing Adrian Peterson back in two weeks. If something happens to that kid’s knee …
27. Atlanta Falcons – Joey Harrington or Byron Leftwich is like deciding between a punch to the face or one to the gut. You lose either way.
28. St. Louis Rams – Are you thinking lineman in the draft, or Michigan’s Jake Long?
29. Oakland Raiders – Saving JaMarcus Russell for Decemeber might have been a good move.
30. New York Jets – One win does not a season make. But Gate D rules!
31. San Francisco 49ers – Bad beyond words.
32. Miami Dolphins – Ricky Williams will not mean a victory next week.